Pump plunger



R. H. LEMMON May 1, 1934.

PUMP PLUNGER Filed Jan. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. H. LEMMON May l, 1.934.

PUMP PLUNGER Filed Jan. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May l, 1934 ITED STATES PATE- ori-ice Claims.

This invention relates to a plunger and especially to a construction thereof including means for controlling flow of iiuid past the plunger. It is the common practice in pump 5 plungers to provide packing cups which are expanded tightly against the barrel to prevent leakage around the plunger. Packing rings have been employed, these being expansible either due to their resiliency, such as metal rings, or which are of compressible material and expanded by axial pressure. Packing cups have also been used relying upon hydraulic pressure to hold them tightly against the barrel. In deep well pumps such as are used for elevating petroleum, the plungers encounter great pressure resulting in rapid wear and deterioration. Petroleum and liquids from deep wells often carry a large amount of grit and sand which act as an abrasive upon the packing. This increases the wear, and frequent replacement of the packing is required. Furthermore this sand and grit accumulate above and around the packing intensifying the wear and sometimes cause the plunger to stick or freeze.

The present invention has for its primary object the creation of turbulence of fluid around a plunger; the employment of a novel means permitting a limited now of liquid past the plunger,

thereby holding the sand andgrit in suspension and preventing accumulation of sand and grit with resultant decrease in wear. Another object of this invention is to impede past the plunger to decrease slippage and yet not sacrince suspension of sand and grit so as not to accumulate or concentrate at the wearing surfaces between plunger and barrel.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is an elevation of a .plunger of deep well valve type, a fragment of a pump barrel being shown in section and a portion of the plunger being broken out to condense the view; Fig. 2 is an axial section through a fragment of the pump plunger and barrel on an enlarged scale; Figs. 3 and 4 are sections as seen upon the planes designated by the correspondingly numbered lines of 50 Fig. 2;

. ,a modied form of the plunger, and Fig. 6 is a 'section as seen on the plane designated 6-6 in Fig; 5.

Referring with moreparticularity to Figs. 1 to 554, a pump barrel-7 is shown in an oil string.

the iiow of liquid Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of.

plunger shell 10 has a crown Mounted in the barrel is a pump plunger having a crown valve cage 8 housing the usual ball valve 9 and having a socket portion whereby the plunger body 10 may be attached to the sucker rod l1. Embracing the body 10 are packing rings. 60 At the lower end of the plunger is the usual blind cage 12 through which the fluid being elevated passes. A standing valve seat 13 supports a standing valve 14.

A ring 15 is threaded on the plunger shell or body 10 adjacent the blind cage and a lock nut 16 secures the ring in place.h A threaded ring 17 is mounted on the body adjacent the crown cage 8 and is locked in place by a nut 18. Clamped between the rings 15 and 17 are packing rings forming a packing assembly. There are large rings 19 which are preferably Solid and have an outer diameter which may have a substantially leak tight t with the pump barrel 7. The inner wall of the rings 19 are of a diameter such as to provide a substantial clearance space 20 between the plunger shell and the rings 19. Alternating with the rings 19 are rings 21 whose bores are such that the rings may snugly hug the plunger shell 10. The rings 2l have sectors 22 cut therefrom to provide a space which communicates with the adjacent clearance space 20. Rings 21 are of an outer diameter such as to provide clearance spaces 23 between the peripheries of the rings and the barrel.

The assembly comprises alternate rings which engage the barrel at their peripheries and provide baies and alternate rings which engage the plunger shell at their bores. There are clearance spaces providing annular chambers 20 and 23 arrangedin staggered relation and connected through sector spaces 22. Thus, the iiuid may pass by the rings from one end of the assembly to the other in a tortuous path wherein the passing uid is subject to eddies. Fluid is thus allowed to pass around the plunger but is impeded. Any sand or grit is kept in suspension by the turbulence and is not allowed to accumulate. There is thus a slippage of fluid but without substantially interferring with holding the sand and grit in suspension and avoiding concentration or accumulation.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a pump barrel 7 is shown having a plunger of the same general character as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cage 8 and ball valve 9. On the plunger shell is a threaded ring 17 and a lock ring 18 for coaction with a similar ring and lock nut at the other end of the plunger shell. rThe structure just described is the same 110 Cil as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Clamped between the rings are packing rings 24. These packing rings differ from those heretofore described. Each of the rings of the packing assembly are the same in construction and comprises an annular body having an external offset 25 and an internal offset 26. The offset 25 may engage the wall of the barrel 7 to provide a bafe and the offset 26 may engage the wall of the plunger shell. There are thus formed on opposite sides of each ring annular spaces which are placed in communication through ducts 27. Adjacent rings 24 are reversed so that there isa passage for fluid from the outside of one ring through its ducts to the inside of that ring and thence to the inside of the adjacent ring and through the ducts of the adjacent ring to the outside. A tortuous path is thus provided for the fluid from one end of the packing assembly to the other enabling sand and grit` to be carried in suspension and impedance offered to the flow to control the slippage.

It will be noted that in each of the constructions there will be a turbulence of liquid around the plunger as the latter is reciprocated. This turbulent action insures against lodgment of sand and grit.

What I claim is:-

1. In a pump having a smooth bore barrel, a plunger having a body with barrel engaging means frictionally contacting said barrel, said means having a tortuous passage extending from one end to the other thereof to enable fluid to pass by or around said plunger and be impeded in its passage, said passage being characterized by annular spaces ranging peripherally about said means to provide clearance spaces between said barrel and said means, portions of said means peripherally extending between said spaces to provide baliie means in said passage.

2. In a pump having a smooth barrel, a plunger' having a body, a packing on said body of sleevelike form frictionally contacting said barrel, said packing having a tortuous passage extending from oneA end to the other thereof to enable fluid to pass by or around said plunger and be impeded in its passage, said passage being characterized by annular spaces ranging peripherally about said packing to provide clearance spaces between said barrel and said packing, portions of said packing peripherally extending between said spaces to interrupt communication.

Y 3. In a pump having a barrel, a plunger having a body, a packing on said body of sleeve-like form, said packing having a tortuous passage extending from one end to the other thereof to enable fluid to pass by or through said plunger packing and be impeded in its passage, said passage being characterized by annular spaces ranging peripherally about said body in staggered relation, the annular spaces being staggered with an annular space between said packing and said barrel and its adjacent annular space between said body and said packing.

4. In a pump having a barrel, a plunger having a body, a packing on said body comprising rings, annular spaces extending around said rings to provide spaces arranged in staggered formation longitudinally with a space between said packing and plunger body and an adjacent space between said packing and barrel, said packing having passages for communication of said adjacent annular spaces whereby a tortuous passage for fluid to pass by or through said plunger packing from one end of the packing to the other is provided.

5. In a pump having a smooth bore barrel, a plunger, structure to prevent lodgment of sand, grit and the like about the plunger at its wearing surface with said barrel; said structure comprising a plunger peripheral surface having a passage from one end to the other and ranging peripherally around said plunger and peripherally eX- tensive bale portions for frictional engagement with said barrel and extending transversely across said passage to interrupt flow from one end to the other and to create turbulence of the liquid surging therethrough.

REES H. LEMMON. 

